Patient gown

ABSTRACT

A poncho-like patient gown is described. This gown comprises an essentially rectangular fabric sheet having a center aperture. The aperture is adapted to fit over the head of the patient, causing the front and back panels of the sheet to drape downward from the patient&#39;s shoulders and cover the torso of the patient. Closure means, such as a sash, gather the panels about the torso to preserve patient modesty.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to patient gowns, suitable for wear in aphysician's office or hospital setting. They are intended both to ensurepatient modesty and to facilitate treatment by a medical provider.

Conventional patient gowns usually look much like a robe, but are wornfacing the opposite direction. They normally cover the torso front andsides as well as parts of the arms of a patient, while opening down theback.

This back or rear opening of conventional gowns has long been the targetof attempts at humor. It is, however, far from desirable to manypatients because of the modesty problems which it presents.

Conventional gowns also present impediments to the treatment of apatient. Direct access to the front of the patient's torso, especiallyin the area of the chest, is normally restricted. The gown must beloosened at the neck or even partially removed from the shoulders forsuch a treatment, including examination, by a medical provider.

Where the patient is seated or lying in bed, these problems arecompounded. In these positions, the patient's weight usually lies on oneor both gown sides, adjacent the rear opening. This makes an attempt toloosen the gown even more difficult.

There has been no meaningful design improvement in patient gowns fordecades. Both medical care providers and patients have thereforecontinued to suffer these drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a patient gownwhich allows enhanced patient modesty.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a patient gownwhich facilitates direct access to the front and/or back of thepatient's torso for the purpose of treatment, including examination.

These and more specific objects and advantages are obtained through thepresent patient gown comprising an essentially rectangular sheet ofwater-permeable material having a center aperture. The center apertureis adapted to fit over the head of the patient, causing the front andback panels to drape downward from the patient's shoulders and cover thetorso of the patient. Closure means, such as a sash, gather the panelsabout the torso of the patient.

The poncho-like sheet of the present gowns is, as previously indicated,essentially rectangular. Preferably, the dimensions of the adjacentsides of a sheet are in a ratio of approximately 2:1. In thisembodiment, the sheet is most desirably approximately 80 inches long by40 inches wide.

The sheet is composed of water-permeable material such as paper orfabric. Desirably, it is a readily washable fabric such as cotton. Thismakes it both comfortable as well as reusable.

In the center of the present sheets there is an aperture. By “center”,what is meant is the approximate point defined by the intersection oflines drawn between opposite corners of the sheet. This aperture isadapted to fit over the head of the patient, permitting the sheet todrape evenly from the patient's shoulders.

The center aperture of the sheet may take any number of forms. Mostsimply, it may be a slit or oval, desirably parallel to either thelonger (length) or shorter (width) sides of the sheet. Other embodimentsinclude an essentially round or v-shaped opening, as are customary int-shirts and other wearing apparel.

Once the aperture is fitted over the head and the sheet rests on thepatient's shoulders, the sheet is defined into front and back panels.The panels are normally of approximately equal size, each representingabout one-half of the sheet. These two panels cover the respective frontand back portions of the patient's torso as the sheet drapes downward,like a poncho, from the patient's shoulders.

The panels should extend downward from the shoulders to cover at leastthe torso of the patient. Desirably, they drape further, to cover tobelow the patient's knees. The exact length, however, is largely amatter of individual preference and/or modesty. Moreover, it will varysomewhat, dependent upon the build of the particular individual wearinga given gown.

The closure means for the present gowns is largely intended to ensurepatient modesty. This closure means reduces the side openings betweenadjacent edges of the panels which would otherwise expose both flanks ofa patient. Accordingly, this closure means should detachably gather thetwo panels about the torso, desirably at about the waist. This ensuresthat the space between the adjacent side edges of the panels is reducedor eliminated over most of their length.

These closure means may be permanently affixed to the gown at the frontand/or back panels. If closure means are affixed to both panels, onlythe closure means on one panel need be used at any given time and thegown may be closed at the front or back, at the patient's option.

Normally this closure is performed by first gathering one of the panelsabout the patient's torso. The other panel may then be pulled around thetorso from the opposite direction, its side edges overlapping the sideedges of the first or underlying panel. Then, for example in the case ofa sash closure means, the ends of the sash may simply be tied over thesecond, outer panel. This holds the gown in place.

Other suitable closure means may include buttons/buttonholes, snaps,velcro or the like which detachably affix the two panels about thepatient. Preferably, however, the closure means comprises an elongatedsash employed to surround the torso.

Such a preferred sash may be as simple as a belt-like length of the samematerial as the gown sheet. The sash may be placed at the waist,circumscribing the torso, and its two ends tied together in the samemanner as a bathrobe sash. This gathers the panel closely to thepatient's body, insuring modesty.

In still more preferred embodiments, the sash is permanently affixed tothe gown so that it will always be available for use. One desirablemanner in which this may be accomplished is to sew or otherwise attach aportion of the sash(es) permanently to a panel, leaving the ends free tobe tied in a manner which detachably gathers the sheet panels about thepatient's torso.

For example, the approximate mid-length of a sash can be sewn to theapproximate mid-width of a sheet panel. The two free ends of that sashmay then be tied about the torso, gathering both panels as alreadydescribed. An alternative manner in which this may be accomplished is tosew or otherwise attach the ends of two sashes to a panel, usuallyproximate the opposing sides of the panel. For example, the attached endof each sash may be sewed to a panel within six inches of its side edgeleaving the remainder of the sash free. Then, the unattached or freesash ends may be tied together about the torso, again gathering thepanels to the patient as previously described.

The present gown is particularly easy to put on and take off. Unlikeconventual gowns, patients are not confused as to how it should be worn.Because there is no substantial difference between the panels, a patientcannot put it on backwards. Further, one size will fit almost anyoneand, unless the patient intends to leave the examination room, it is noteven necessary to employ the closure means.

Once a patient is wearing the present gown, its other advantages overconventional gowns become apparent. It offers an enhanced ease oftreatment, including examination. A patient therefore disrobes, if notcompletely, then desirably at least to the patient's undergarments andthen adorns the present gown for treatment by a medical provider.

A medical provider can readily gain access to both the front and backareas of a patient wearing the present gown. There will be slit-likeopenings between adjacent panel edges, along the patient's sides abovethe closure means. A medical provider can readily access all upper bodyareas through these openings. Below the closure means, access isavailable simply by lifting a panel. Consequently, there is seldom anyneed to loosen or remove the gown for treatment of any body areas of apatient.

It also makes little difference for treatment, whether the patient isseated or in bed. With conventional gowns, the patient's weight willnormally rest on part of the gown. This can make access to certain bodyareas difficult. With the present invention, however, neither of thesepositions substantially effects the side openings exhibited by thisponcho-like patient gown. Similarly, neither position restricts theability to lift the upper-most panel. Consequently, direct access to thepatient's entire torso for treatment, including examination, isessentially unimpeded.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The sole FIGURE is a plan view drawing of a patient gown of the presentinvention.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, reference numeral 1 indicates apatient gown embodying the present invention. Patient gown 1 is of anessentially rectangular shape and comprises a cotton fabric sheet 2having a center aperture 3. Here, this aperture 3 is shown as anoval-neck opening, its longer axis being aligned with that of the sheet2.

After the gown 1 has been placed on a patient (not shown) by insertingthe patient's head through the aperture 3, the sheet 2 will drapedownward from the patient's shoulders (see broken line representing theapproximate break-line of the sheet over a patient's shoulders), therebydefining a front panel 4 and back panel 5 of the sheet 2.

Ends 8 and 9 of two lengths of sash 6 and 7 are sewn to the back panel5. The opposite free ends 10 and 11 of the sashes 6 and 7 may be pulledaround the torso of the patient, gathering the panels 4 and 5, and maybe detachably tied together at the patient's front to ensure modesty.

Also shown in this embodiment is a second set of two additional lengthsof sash 6′ and 7′ having corresponding ends 8′ and 9′ sewn to the otherpanel 4. The free ends 10′and 11′ are similarly available to gather thepanels 4 and 5 and be detachably tied together around the patient'storso (not shown), should the patient prefer, or choose instead, to usethem.

This embodiment of the present invention incorporating both an oval neckopening and a set of sashes on each panel is a particularly preferredone. As should be apparent, it is totally symmetrical in form, althoughonly one set of the sashes is usually used at any given time to tie thegown closed. Consequently, patients have exhibited no uncertaintyconcerning how to put on, or wear, such a gown. This is quite helpfulunder medical conditions which patients may perceive as stressful.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been described indetail above, it is to be understood that this description is by way ofexample only. The protection granted is to be limited only by the spiritof the invention and the scope of the following claims.

1. A patient gown comprising an essentially rectangular sheet ofwater-permeable material, said sheet having a center aperture adapted tofit over the head of said patient, causing said sheet to drape from thepatient's shoulders, thereby defining front and back sheet panels whichcover the torso of said patient and closure means for detachablygathering said panels about said torso.
 2. The gown of claim 1, whereinthe sheet comprises cotton fabric.
 3. The gown of claim 2, wherein theclosure means comprises an elongated sash for circumscribing the torsoof the patient and gathering said panels about said torso.
 4. The gownof claim 3, wherein the center aperture is oval shaped.
 5. The gown ofclaim 3, wherein the closure means comprises an elongated sash affixedto one of said panels, the two ends of said sash being adapted tocircumscribe the torso of the patient for gathering said panels aboutsaid torso.
 6. The gown of claim 3, wherein the closure means comprisesa set of two elongated sashes, one end of each of said sashes beingaffixed to one of said panels, the other two ends being adapted tocircumscribe the torso of the patient for gathering said panels aboutsaid torso.
 7. The gown of claim 6, wherein there is a second set of twoelongate sashes, one end of each of said sashes being affixed to thesecond of said panels, the other two ends being adapted to circumscribethe torso of the patient for detachably gathering said panels about saidtorso.
 8. In a method for treatment of the torso of a patient by amedical provider, the improvement wherein said patient at least disrobesto said patient's undergarments and then adorns the gown of claim 1 forsaid treatment.
 9. In a method for treatment of the torso of a patientby a medical provider, the improvement wherein said patient at leastdisrobes to said patient's undergarments and then adorns the gown ofclaim 2 for said treatment.
 10. In a method for treatment of the torsoof a patient by a medical provider, the improvement wherein said patientat least disrobes to said patient's undergarments and then adorns thegown of claim 3 for said treatment.
 11. In a method for treatment of thetorso of a clothed patient by a medical provider, the improvementwherein said patient at least disrobes to said patient's undergarmentsand then adorns the gown of claim 6 for said treatment.
 12. In a methodfor treatment of the torso of a patient by a medical provider, theimprovement wherein said patient at least disrobes to said patient'sundergarments and then adorns the gown of claim 7 for said treatment.